Biological specimen collection container

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a biological specimen collecting container for holding a biological specimen in a long-term sustained and sealed environment. The biological specimen collecting container comprises a container for holding the biological specimen and a sealing closure cap. The container is of circular section and has a generally vertical side wall, the side wall at the top being provided with a first thread on an exterior surface thereof. The sealing closure cap has a peripheral groove to receive the container rim, an outer wall of the closure cap being provided with a second thread complementary to the first thread on the container for engagement therewith. The exterior of the outer wall of the sealing closure cap is provided with an integral indicator. The exterior wall of the container below the first thread is provided with an integral indicator in a position such that when the indicator of the closure cap lines up with the indicator on the container, the cap is secure and the container is closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a biological specimen collection container and in particular to a biological specimen collection container having an integral closure indicator to indicate when the container is properly sealed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Biological specimen containers serve to assure the integrity of the biological specimen being collected for testing as well as to protect the health care professional or handler from the possible pathogens in the container. The safe handling of biological specimens has become increasingly critical in view of the increase in both the number and severity of potential hazards associated with the handling of such specimens. The onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome arising from infection by the highly contagious HIV virus has resulted in increased awareness of the need for safe handling of biological specimens. This factor, along with such factors as potential infection from hepatitis virus and the increased awareness of the carcinogenic properties of substances in common medical use has created a demand for biological specimen containers that are of reasonable cost and readily sealed.

There are at present many plastic biological specimen containers in use, particularly those manufactured of polypropylene. Polypropylene has many of the required characteristics such as high resistance to leakage, chemical or biological infiltration, moderate cost, resilient yet substantially inert, stable at temperatures of normal use and relatively safely incinerated. However, polypropylene does have a tendency, when it is elastically deformed at pressure points such as the seal to gradually drawback from the pressure point thereby reducing the contact seal, resulting in increased susceptibility to leakage. In order to provide for this proper seal it is necessary that the cap or lid of the container be securely and completely screwed down. If this is not done, then the cap or lid may release and allow leakage of the contents of the container.

There have in the past been some proposals for ways to indicate that the lid is completely sealed. One example of such a system is shown in United States patent number which describes a paper label placed on the lid and container for indicating when the container is properly sealed. However this system has a drawback in that should the label be removed from the lid or container the indication of proper sealing is no longer present

There thus remains a need for a simple way of indicating that a biological specimen container has been properly sealed.

SUMMARY THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a biological specimen collecting container for holding a biological specimen in a long-term sustained and sealed environment. The biological specimen collecting container comprises a container for holding the biological specimen and a sealing closure. The container is of circular section and has a generally vertical side wall, the side wall at the top being provided with a first thread on an exterior surface thereof. The sealing closure has a peripheral groove to receive the container rim, an outer wall of the closure being provided with a second thread complementary to the first thread on the container for engagement therewith. The exterior of the outer wall of the sealing closure is provided with an integral indicator. The exterior wall of the container below the first thread is provided with an integral indicator in a position such that when the indicator of the closure lines up with the indicator on the container, the cap is secure and the container is closed and sealed.

In an aspect of the invention, the integral sealing indicator is selected from a solid arrow shape, a triangle, square, rectangle and a plurality of vertically extending raised indicator bars or other shape which serves as an indicator on the vial portion of the container. The indicator on the cap may be a bar, an arrow or other shape to indicate the position of the cap relative to the container.

In another aspect of the invention the integral indicator on the exterior wall of the container is a plurality of vertically extending raised indicator bars spaced along the outer wall, the bars increasing in length in the direction of closure of the cap.

In another aspect of the invention the cap is provided with two integral indicator bars 180° apart on the exterior of the cap

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological collection container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1 in the process of being closed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 4 is a a perspective view of a second embodiment of a biological collection container in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container of FIG. 4 in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the biological specimen collection container of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures. A container 10 is provided for holding a biological sample, the container 10 being closed and sealed by a sealing closure cap 12 as illustrated in the drawings. The container 10 and closure cap 12 are engaged and held in engaged relationship by the use of complementary threads comprising a first thread 14 provided on the exterior of the container 10 and a second thread 16 provided on the interior of the outer wall of the cap 12.

The container 10 is circular in section having a vertical side wall 18, a bottom 20 and an open mouth 22 defined by a rim 24. The side wall 18 below the rim is provided with a first thread 14 and below the thread 14 is provided an integral sealing indicator 26, the function of which will be explained further below. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the integral sealing indicator 26 is provided as a plurality of individual vertically oriented raised lines on the exterior wall which increase in length in the direction of closure of the closure cap 12.

Closure cap 12 has a peripheral groove 28 to receive the container rim 24, the groove 28 being defined by an outer wall 30, inner wall 32 and a top 34. The interior of the outer wall 30 is provided with a second thread 34, complementary to the first thread 14 on the exterior of the container 10. The closure cap 12 also has a crown portion 36 and a connection portion 38 extending between the crown portion 36 and the inner wall 32 of the groove 28. The exterior of the outer wall 30 is provided with an integral sealing indicator 40, the function of which will also be explained below. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, closure cap 12 is provided with two integral sealing indicators 40 located 180° apart on the exterior of the outer wall 30.

When one wishes to close and seal the biological specimen container of the present invention, the closure cap 12 is placed on the top of the container 10 and turned in a clockwise direction to allow the complementary threads 14 and 34 to engage one another and thereby seal the container. The indication of cap closure is evident by the position of the indicator 40 on the closure cap 12 relative to the indicator 26 on the container 10. When the indicator 40 of the closure cap 12 is positioned over any portion of the indicator 26 of the container 10, the closure cap 12 is secure and the container 10 is closed. By providing the indicator 26 on the container 10 as a plurality of individual bars increasing in length the positive engagement of the cap to the container of at least 95 kPa may be indicated. When the indicator 40 on the closure cap is 12 turned completely to the left of the indicator 26 on the container 10, the sealing is 95 kPa compliant.

Several indicator positions, such a one to four or more, however for clarity one or two position points are preferred. As a product label may obscure on of the indicators a minimum of two indicators is preferred.

The indicator profiles are machined into the steel molds thus the locations of the indicator profiles on the plastic vials and caps are located precisely.

The integral indicators 26 and 40 of the present invention are easily formed during the molding of the container 10 and closure cap 12 respectively. As the closure indicators are integral to the cap or container, there is no risk of the indicators becoming dissociated from the container and thus as they are always associated with the container, the user of the container always knows if the container is properly sealed. In addition, as the closure indicators are formed during the molding operation, the required position of the indicators is easily determined. One does not have to first securely seal the container and then attach an external closure indicator as in the prior art. This separate step is susceptible to error if the container has not been properly closed prior to attachment of the external closure indicator.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention of the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A biological specimen collecting container for holding a biological specimen in a long-term sustained and sealed environment, the biological specimen collecting container comprises a container for holding the biological specimen and a sealing closure cap, the container being of circular section and having a generally vertical side wall, the side wall at the top being provided with a first thread on an exterior surface thereof, the sealing closure cap having a peripheral groove to receive the container rim, an outer wall of the sealing closure cap being provided with a second thread complementary to the first thread on the container for engagement therewith, the exterior of the outer wall of the sealing closure cap being provided with an integral sealing indicator, the exterior wall of the container below the first thread being provided with an integral sealing indicator in a position such that when the indicator of the sealing closure cap lines up with the indicator on the container, the sealing closure cap is secure and the container is closed.
 2. A biological specimen collecting container according to claim 1 wherein the integral sealing indicator is selected from a solid arrow shape, a triangle, square, rectangle and a plurality of vertically extending raised indicator bars or other shape which serves as an indicator on the vial portion of the container.
 3. A biological specimen collecting container according to claim 2 wherein the indicator on the cap is selected from a bar, an arrow or other shape to indicate the position of the cap relative to the container.
 4. A biological specimen collecting container according to claim 3 wherein the integral indicator on the exterior wall of the container is a plurality of vertically extending raised indicator bars spaced along the outer wall, the bars increasing in length in the direction of closure of the cap.
 5. A biological specimen collecting container according to claim 4 wherein the cap is provided with two indicators 180° apart on the exterior of the cap. 